Department for Transport

High Speed 2 Railway Line

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the latest economic case for HS2; and whether this has altered since the High Speed Rail (London — West Midlands) Act 2017 received Royal Assent.

baroness sugg: The latest economic case for HS2 is the High Speed Two Phase Two Economic Case, published in July 2017. The next economic case is planned to be published in 2019 as part of the Full Business Case for Phase One.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what seat occupancy assumptions have been used in theeconomic case for HS2.

baroness sugg: The economic case does not assume a fixed occupancy rate for HS2 services. Predicted levels of occupancy and crowding are a product of demand, supply, and other transport modelling assumptions and vary by time of day, year and HS2 service.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

lord mancroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Sugg on 23 May (HL7911), what discussions they have had with contractors about the need to ensure that fencing along the HS2 Phase One line is (1) stock proof to enable agricultural use to continue along the line post-opening, and (2) of sufficient quality to prevent domestic animals and wildlife from accessing the line.

baroness sugg: HS2 Ltd has been working with the main works civil contractors to develop Phase One scheme designs which will continue until the end of 2018 when it expects to agree construction plans for the new high-speed railway and ancillary works such as fencing. HS2 Ltd’s technical standard for fencing requires that temporary and permanent fencing shall be stock-proofed where appropriate, and this shall take account of the anticipated livestock loading on the fencing and its foundations. The security fencing around the entire railway, designed to prevent unauthorised access, will also act as a barrier for domestic animals and many species of wildlife.

Blue Badge Scheme

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to publish the results of their consultation on extending eligibility of Blue Badge holders to ensure parity for those with physical and non-physical disabilities.

baroness sugg: The consultation received a significant response and the views received are currently being considered carefully. An announcement will be made as soon as possible following completion of the analysis.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Industry: Greater London

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment theyhave made of the lack of industrial floor space in London and of its effects on businesses.

lord henley: The Mayor of London has devolved responsibility for producing an integrated spatial strategy for London, known as the London Plan, which includes setting policies for land use (including industrial land and floor space). The latest draft London Plan was published for consultation in 2017 and includes proposals to increase the amount of industrial land and floor space in boroughs where there is a known future demand. Government sets national planning policy which the Mayor and individual boroughs are required to conform to when setting their own policies. National policy makes clear the need for areas to plan for their economic growth, and for areas to allocate sites and land uses depending on their housing and economic need assessments. The draft London Plan will be subject to examination by my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, where the Mayor’s policies for industrial land will be scrutinised against national policy to ensure they’re fit for purpose.

Industry: Greater London

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to increase the amount of industrial floor space available in London.

lord henley: The Mayor of London has devolved responsibility for producing an integrated spatial strategy for London, known as the London Plan, which includes setting policies for land use (including industrial land and floor space). The latest draft London Plan was published for consultation in 2017 and includes proposals to increase the amount of industrial land and floor space in boroughs where there is a known future demand. Government sets national planning policy which the Mayor and individual boroughs are required to conform to when setting their own policies. National policy makes clear the need for areas to plan for their economic growth, and for areas to allocate sites and land uses depending on their housing and economic need assessments. The draft London Plan will be subject to examination by my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, where the Mayor’s policies for industrial land will be scrutinised against national policy to ensure they’re fit for purpose.

UK Notified Bodies

the earl of kinnoull: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether UK Notified Bodies will be able to continue to work with UK manufacturers, checking their products conform to the essential requirements of European directives which have also been transposed into UK law, until the end of the anticipated Brexit implementation period.

lord henley: The Government recognises the valuable work undertaken by UK Notified Bodies in ensuring that products placed on the market have been through suitable assessment to ensure they comply with the relevant requirements. During the implementation period the UK will no longer be a Member State of the European Union, but market access will continue on current terms. For UK Notified Bodies this means that they will continue to be able to conduct third-party conformity assessments for both the UK and the EU markets as they do now.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reportForced Conversions & Forced Marriages in Sindh, Pakistan, published by the Commonwealth Institute for Freedom of Religion and Belief and the University of Birmingham.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Government remains firmly committed to the promotion and protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief globally. We believe that the freedom to practice one's faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a fundamental human right.Pakistan is a human rights priority for the UK. We remain deeply concerned by reports of forced marriages and forced conversions in Pakistan. We regularly raise our concerns about the protection of vulnerable groups, including religious minorities and women, with the Pakistani Government at a senior level. I discussed our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the treatment of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Interior Minister during his visit to the UK in February 2018.I was pleased to attend at the launch of the Commonwealth Initiative for Freedom of Religion and Belief and University of Birmingham report on forced conversions and forced marriages in Sindh, Pakistan, in Parliament on 6 June. We will carefully consider the recommendations of this report.The UK supports a range of projects in Pakistan which aim to: promote greater tolerance and religious freedom; increase the recording and prosecution of cases of violence against women and children; improve women and girls' awareness of their legal rights and access to formal justice systems; and increase the participation of women in democracy as voters and candidates.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to reflect the recommendations and conclusions from the reportForced Conversions & Forced Marriages in Sindh, Pakistan,published by the Commonwealth Institute for Freedom of Religion and Belief and the University of Birminghamin their development and foreign affairs policies; and if so, how.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Government remains firmly committed to the promotion and protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief globally. The freedom to practice one's faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a fundamental human right.Pakistan is a human rights priority for the UK. We remain deeply concerned by reports of forced marriages and forced conversions in Pakistan. We regularly raise our concerns about the protection of vulnerable groups, including religious minorities and women, with the Pakistani Government at a senior level. I discussed our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the treatment of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Interior Minister during his visit to the UK in February 2018.I was pleased to attend at the launch of the Commonwealth Initiative for Freedom of Religion and Belief and University of Birmingham report on forced conversions and forced marriages in Sindh, Pakistan, in Parliament on 6 June. We will carefully consider the recommendations of this report.The UK supports a range of projects in Pakistan which aim to: promote greater tolerance and religious freedom; increase the recording and prosecution of cases of violence against women and children; improve women and girls' awareness of their legal rights and access to formal justice systems; and increase the participation of women in democracy as voters and candidates.

Palestinians: Recognition of States

lord grocott: To ask Her Majesty's Government which member states of the United Nations have recognised Palestine as a state.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: 136 UN member states have recognised a Palestinian state. They are: Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Angola; Antigua & Barbuda; Argentina; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; Bolivia; Bosnia & Herzegovina; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Bulgaria; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; Chile; China; Comoros; Republic of Congo; Costa Rica; Cote d' Ivoire; Cuba; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Democratic People's Republic of Korea; Democratic Republic of Congo; Djibouti; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; Equatorial Guinea; Ethiopia; Gabon; Gambia; Georgia; Ghana; Grenada; Guatemala; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Hungary; Iceland; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Malaysia; Maldives; Mali; Malta; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Mozambique; Namibia; Nepal; Nicaragua; Niger; Nigeria; Oman; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Poland; Qatar; Romania; Russian Federation; Rwanda; Saint Lucia; Sao Tome and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Serbia; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Slovakia; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Sudan; Suriname; Swaziland; Sweden; Syria; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Timor-Leste; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; Uruguay; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Venezuela; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia and Zimbabwe.The Holy See, which is not a member of the United Nations but has permanent observer status, has also recognised a Palestinian state.

Yemen: Military Intervention

baroness kinnock of holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to secure the agreement of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition involved in the conflict in Yemen to the UN Plan of Action to protect children who are being killed, wounded and displaced by airborne and other military attacks.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The United Kingdom considers the agreement and implementation of the UN Action Plans to be a vital step in improving the protection of children. We therefore call on all parties listed within the annex of the Secretary-General's report that have not put these measures in place to do so as a matter of priority. We call on all other parties who have put measures in place to honour their commitments in full.We regularly raise the importance of compliance with International Humanitarian Law with Saudi Arabia and other parties involved in the coalition supporting the legitiment Goverment of Yemen. The Prime Minister raised the issue with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia during a call on 2 June.

Burma: Christianity

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Myanmarfollowing reports of attacks by the Myanmar military on the Christian Kachin people in the north of Myanmar.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Foreign Secretary most recently raised his concerns about the fighting in Kachin State in his call with Burma's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on 11 June. He called for Burma's military to exercise restraint and allow humanitarian access. Our Ambassador to Burma expressed concern about the military's treatment of civilians in Kachin in his meeting with Burma's Commander in Chief on 3 May.The Minister for Asia and the Pacific issued a statement on 11 May calling on all parties to the conflict to cease fighting, protect civilians, and return fully to peace talks, which the UK supports and which seek to bring to an end 70 years of internal conflict in Burma.

Philippines: Ministers of Religion

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of the Philippines about the recent killings of the Reverends Tentorio, Favali, Carzedda, Paez, and Ventura; and whether they will call for an independent inquiry into their deaths.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is committed to the promotion of human rights, including freedom of religion and belief. Whilst we have not discussed the specific killings of the Reverends Tentorio, Favali, Carzedda, Paez, and Ventura, we have continued to call on the Government of the Philippines, including at the Human Rights Council, to ensure a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders. We urge thorough and impartial investigations into all violent deaths.

Burma: Armed Conflict

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to put pressure on the Burmese authorities to comply with international humanitarian law and assist Kachin civilians trapped in the fighting.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns about the fighting in Kachin State in his most recent call with Burma's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on 11 June. He called for Burma's military to exercise restraint and allow humanitarian access. The Minister for Asia and the Pacific made clear on 17 May the Government's concern about the situation in Karen State, calling on all parties to cease fighting; allow access for humanitarian aid; and abide by the National Ceasefire Agreement.

Burma: Rohingya

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to press the government of Burma to address the underlying causes of the Rohingya refugee crisis.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Government considers the full implementation of the Rakhine Advisory Commission's recommendations the best route to addressing the underlying causes of the Rohingya refugee crisis. The UK ensured the UN Security Council's Presidential Statement of November 2017 urged all parts of the Government of Burma to work together to implement the Commission's recommendations swiftly and in full, and supports the work of the Advisory Board to the Implementation Committee for the Rakhine Advisory Commission. The Foreign Secretary has pressed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to create the conditions in Rakhine State that would allow Rohingya refugees to return, and in their most recent conversation on 11 June underlined the importance of promoting reconciliation between the different communities of Rakhine. The UK continues to press the Burmese authorities to hold to account those responsible for human rights violations in Rakhine, to make clear there can be no impunity for those responsible for the violence that has caused almost 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh since 25 August 2017.

Northern Ireland Office

British Irish Intergovernmental Conference

lord maginnis of drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to hold a meeting of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference; if so, who would represent the UK at such a meeting; what preparatory consultations, if any, they have had with those architects of the Belfast Agreement who are still in Parliament; and what matters would be scheduled for discussion at any such meeting.

lord duncan of springbank: This Government remains focused on our efforts to restore a locally elected, devolved Government in Northern Ireland. We have regular discussions with the Irish Government in full accordance with the well-established three stranded approach.

Belfast-Dublin Railway Line

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive and the government of Ireland about improving the rail line between Dublin and Belfast, including any plans to electrify the route.

lord duncan of springbank: Transport Infrastructure in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter.

Department of Health and Social Care

Speech and Language Disorders: Children and Young People

lord shinkwin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to commission research into the effectiveness of speech and language therapy interventions for children and young people with mental health needs and speech, language and communication needs.

lord o'shaughnessy: There are currently five active projects funded by the National Institute for Health Research on effectiveness of speech and language therapy interventions for children and young people. There are no current plans to commission further research at this stage.Public Health England has formed a partnership with the Department for Education to improve early language acquisition; this will enable health visitors and early years practitioners to identify and support children’s early speech, language and communication needs through training guidance and an enhanced early language assessment tool.

General Practitioners

lord dobbs: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many patients were treated by doctors in general practice in each year between 2007 and 2017.

lord o'shaughnessy: The number of patients treated by doctors in general practice is not collected or held centrally. The number of general practitioner (GP) appointments is not collected or held centrally. NHS Digital and NHS England are currently undergoing a review process on these appointments data. When this is published it will not include retrospective appointment data. The number of registered patients at GP practices in England has been collected since April 2013 and is presented in the following table. DateNumber of patients registered at a GP practice201356,043,609201456,442,722201557,011,772201657,631,776201758,328,549 Notes:The data presented covers England only.Data snapshot extracted on 1 April from NHS Digital maintained GP Payments system.The data does not go back further than April 2013.

Health Professions: Dismissal

lord dobbs: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of (1) doctors, and (2) nurses who have been dismissed for misconduct at work.

lord o'shaughnessy: NHS Digital publishes data on dismissals under reasons for leaving. The reasons include capability, conduct, statutory and “for some other substantial reason”. The following table shows National Health Service Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) doctors and nurses and health visitors dismissed for ‘conduct’ over the last five years, headcount.   DoctorsNurses and health visitors2011-12Q1983 Q213108 Q31195 Q41299   2012-13Q1571 Q24105 Q3586 Q410102   2013-14Q11090 Q2898 Q34109 Q41292   2014-15Q11192 Q29100 Q31681 Q4977   2015-16Q1991 Q2488 Q3288 Q41180   2016-17Q1970 Q21083 Q3563 Q4679   2017-18Q1790 Q2767 Q3962 Q4Data not released yetData not released yet Source: NHS HCHS monthly workforce statistics, NHS DigitalNotes:- Quarter 1: 1 April - 30 June- Quarter 2: 1 July - 30 September- Quarter 3: 1 October - 31 December- Quarter 4: 1 January - 31 March - These figures are based upon information recorded in Electronic Staff Record (ESR) by organisations as part of locally managed staff leaving processes. The accuracy and quality of this data is reliant on local organisations updating each person’s records appropriately when a staff member moves or leaves. - These figures represent NHS staff who are employed and directly paid by NHS organisations in England using ESR. Two foundation trusts do not use ESR, and these are Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

General Practitioners: Working Hours

lord hunt of chesterton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of hours worked by GPs in the NHS; whether working hours are increasing; whether they intend to limit the number of hours worked; and what discussions they have had with doctors' organisations about GPs' working hours.

lord o'shaughnessy: Based on responses to the GP Worklife Survey, the average weekly hours worked by general practitioners (GPs) in England has remained relatively stable since 2008, but increased slightly from 41.4 hours to 41.8 hours per week between 2015 and 2017.The following table summarises statistics for average weekly hours worked by GPs from 2008 to 2017.YearNumber of responsesMean200863442.120101,05441.420121,11241.720151,11341.4201786941.8 The Department regularly meets with the Royal College of General Practitioners and representatives from the profession to discuss a range of issues, including the number of hours worked by GPs. GP contractors are required to provide essential and additional services within core hours in order to meet the reasonable needs of their patients. It is for the practice partners to agree the working hours of individual GPs within the practice.Any changes to these arrangements will need to be negotiated between NHS England and the GPs’ representative body, the General Practitioners’ Committee of the British Medical Association.The working hours for salaried GPs are set out in the salaried GP model terms and conditions of service. This defines full-time as 37.5 hours per week, and specifies that working hours should be carefully defined within a job plan.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord O'Shaughnessy on 5 June (HL8135), what assessment they have made of the ethicality of the continued recommendation of graded exercise therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy to patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome, following scientific research demonstrating that such therapies are not effective and may harm patients with that illness, and the imminent update of NICE guideline CG53, published in 2007.

lord o'shaughnessy: We are aware that there are concerns that more recent data and analysis suggests graded exercise therapy (GET) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which are recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) might not be as effective as has been found by previous trial results. It is important that all the evidence, including new evidence, is looked at closely. We welcome NICE’s decision to update its clinical guideline on CFS/ME and to examine the new analysis of the evidence base supporting the use of CBT and GET. Updated NICE guidance is planned for publication in 2020.It is important to highlight that the current NICE CFS/ME guideline acknowledges that there is no one form of treatment to suit every patient and that treatment and care should take into account the personal needs and preferences of the patient. NICE also makes clear that, in common with all people receiving care in the National Health Service, those with CFS/ME have the right to refuse or withdraw from any component of their care plan.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Borders: Northern Ireland

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to continue to pursue a backstop arrangement for the Irish border following the rejection ofthat proposal by the EU Chief Brexit Negotiator.

lord callanan: The government published a technical paper on customs setting out the UK’s proposal for a temporary customs arrangement between the UK and EU as a backstop solution for the Northern Ireland and Ireland land border, that would only come into force in specific and narrow circumstances. It is in line with Joint Report commitments on maintaining the constitutional integrity of the UK. Michel Barnier confirmed that he had not rejected the UK’s proposals. We look forward to discussing this further with the EU.

Department for Education

Schools: Assessments

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of pupils have been granted extra time in public exams as a result of special educational needs in (1) state schools, and (2) independent schools; and whether the process for diagnosis of such needs is uniform in both sectors.

lord agnew of oulton: This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sally Collier, to write directly to the noble Lord. A copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Special Educational Needs: Speech and Language Disorders

lord shinkwin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to include someone with expertise in speech, language and communication on the external steering group working with the Department for Education on updating the mental health and behaviour guidance for schools.

lord agnew of oulton: The external steering group for the mental health and behaviour, chaired by Tom Bennett, includes members with a wide range of experience and expertise on behaviour, mental health and vulnerable groups. It includes a range of senior teachers and head teachers as well as special educational needs specialists, such as the Council for Disabled Children. The department will continue to consult experts as the work progresses.

Special Educational Needs: Speech and Language Disorders

lord shinkwin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the trailblazer areas proposed in theTransforming Children and Young People's Mental Health Provision: a Green Paper(Cm 9525)have embedded, or have access to, dedicated speech and language therapy services.

lord agnew of oulton: The government is considering the responses to the consultation on the green paper ‘Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision’ and plans to publish a response before summer recess. The response will set out more information on how the trailblazers for new mental health support teams will work. The trailblazers will test how teams can link to the work of other professionals to enhance the support for vulnerable children and will consider how this can include speech and language therapists.Mental health support teams will work closely with schools and colleges. They can build on the steps the government has already taken to improve access to speech and language therapy. The government introduced through the Children and Families Act 2014, a framework for ensuring that children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with speech language and communication needs, are identified early and receive the support they require to succeed in education and move into independent adult life.The department has also funded I CAN, on behalf of The Communication Trust, and several other specific impairment organisations, to produce materials for use by schools, colleges and others. These materials and resources are freely available on the SEND and Education Training Foundation Gateway.The Department for Health and Social Care is also working with the department and Public Health England to enable early years professionals to identify and support children’s early speech, language and communication needs.

Ministry of Justice

Personal Injury: Compensation

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what new definitions of damages for personal injuries were introduced into law by the Civil Procedure Rules 1998.

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government which damages claimed for are taken into consideration when determining whether a claim for damages for personal injuries should follow the small claims track; and whether special damages and future losses are taken into account in such determinations.

lord keen of elie: There were no new definitions of damages for personal injuries introduced by the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) 1998. A “claim for personal injuries” is defined in CPR 2.3 as “proceedings in which there is a claim for damages in respect of personal injuries to the claimant or any other person or in respect of a person’s death, and ‘personal injuries’ includes any disease and any impairment of a person’s physical or mental condition.”In general, cases allocated to the Small Claims track are those with a financial value of no more than £10,000. For personal injury, there is a lower small claims limit of £1,000 that applies to damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity. Additional damages may be recovered, such as for loss of earnings, damage to property and medical expenses, although to remain on the Small Claims track the total value of the whole claim must not exceed the relevant financial limit.

Marriage: Humanism

viscount ridley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to a laying an order under section 14 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 to give legal recognition to marriages performed by Humanists UK, as recommended in the recent report of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist GroupAny Lawful Impediment?

lord keen of elie: The Government welcomes the engagement of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist group and we are giving careful consideration to the findings of the group’s inquiry.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Almshouses

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the future role of almshouses in providing housing to elderly people.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Almshouses have played an important role for many years in providing affordable homes, and often support, for older and other vulnerable residents in need. They provide a safe and secure environment in communities across the country, particularly in many rural areas. It is clear that almshouses, not least through the dedication and work of the trustees and volunteers who run them, will continue to play a most valuable role in the future.

Religious Buildings: Islam

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they collect data on the number of (1) mosques, and (2) madrassas, in England and Wales; and if so, how many there are.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: We estimate that there are around 1500 mosques and prayer halls in England. We do not hold any data on the number of madrassas.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Environment Protection

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to involvescientists, economists and environmentalists in developing a set of metrics to measure the progress of the 25 Year Environment Plan; and when thosemetrics will be published.

lord gardiner of kimble: We have engaged with scientists, economists and environmentalists from a number of external organisations since January to inform the development of a comprehensive suite of metrics and indicators. We will engage further with interested parties over the summer to canvas views on what this suite of indicators and metrics ought to cover. This will be achieved through a combination of publicly available briefing papers and targeted technical meetings with individual organisations and small groups of interested parties.  The package of metrics we propose will then be subject to a further period of formal consultation in order to ensure we get this important measure absolutely right.

Water: National Policy Statements

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in consulting on the National Policy Statement for Water Resources; and when the outcome of that consultationwill be published.

lord gardiner of kimble: I announced that a national policy statement for water resources would be developed in a written ministerial statement in March 2017 (HLWS532). In November 2017, the government consulted on the approach to developing the statement and proposals to amend the definitions of nationally significant infrastructure projects for water in the Planning Act 2008. The summary of responses and government response was published in March. The government undertook a further informal consultation on amendments to the definitions in April. The government will set out the final thresholds and infrastructure types for the proposed amendment to the Planning Act 2008 in the summer. The government will consult on the draft national policy statement this autumn.

Birds of Prey: Conservation

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many successful prosecutions have been made for raptor persecution in each of the last five years.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Ministry of Justice data does not distinguish raptors from other birds and, as such, this information can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The number of convictions under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for offences in relation to birds, their nests and eggs in each of the last five years are as follows: 2013: 15 2014: 12 2015: 18 2016: 12 2017: 14

Cabinet Office

Public Sector: Conduct

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what professional standards are required of employees of public sector commercial enterprises; and whetherthese comply with the standards of the Civil Service Code.

lord young of cookham: Cabinet Office is not involved with setting the professional standards or terms and conditions for these organisations. We are therefore not able to provide a response.

Absent Parents: Suicide

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of suicides since 2000 of separated fathers compared to those of separated mothers.

lord young of cookham: ​The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. Letter from John Pullinger CB, National Statistician, to The Lord Pearson of Rannoch, dated 15 June 2018.Dear Lord Pearson, As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am replying to your Parliamentary Question asking about the number of suicides since 2000 of separated fathers compared to those of separated mothers (HL8615).The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes suicide rates for the UK, constituent countries, regions and local authorities in England and Wales in an annual bulletin[1].The information we hold on deaths is limited to what is recorded on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death by a doctor, provided to the registrar by the informant at the time of death registration, or recorded by a coroner following their inquest into the cause and circumstances of the death. We can provide the number of suicides per year by legal marital status, but we have no available information on whether the deceased was (a) separated at the time of death, that is, living apart from their partner; or (b) was a father or mother. Table 1 attached provides the numbers and crude rates per 100,00 persons of deaths due to suicide, by sex, for each year between 2000 and 2016 in England and Wales. The rates are broken down by marital status recorded at death. A copy has been placed in the House of Lords Library. Yours sincerely, John Pullinger[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/suicidesintheunitedkingdom/2016registrations